Date: Tue, 29 Oct 1996 20:19:20 +0100
From: ilga
Subject: ILGA NEWS: Chechnia/ Romania
ILGA News: 29 October 1996
*DEATH PENALTY FOR HOMOSEXUALITY IN CHECHNIA?*
*RIGHT-WING ROMANIANS RANT*
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*DEATH PENALTY FOR HOMOSEXUALITY IN CHECHNIA?*
According to the Chechen and Russian media, Checen separatists are proposing
a new Penal code which includes an anti-sodomy law with punishment from five
years in prison to the death penalty. The Triangle Centre, a Moscow-based
Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual organization, and member of ILGA, reports that
since coming to power, the Chechen separatists are looking at basing the new
penal code on Muslim norms.
Roman Kalinin and Eugenia Debrianskaya, on behalf of Triangle, said
yesterday, "We know that many European countries and European and Russian
democratic organizations supported the Chechnian separatists in their fight
against the Russian army. We did it too. Now, it is obvious that the price
of peace will be paid by thousands of lives of non-orthodox Chechnian
citizens, our brothers and sisters."
They ask for support in protesting these proposals. Keep on the alert for an
ILGA/IGLHRC action alert soon! We'll report as soon as we get more
information and addresses for protest!
*RIGHT-WING ROMANIANS RANT*
While the Romanian government retreated from its recent proposal to make
homosexuality illegal, the new legislation is still problematic. The new
penal code outlaws lesbian and gay associations, as well as the sex which
causes "public scandal". Government officials or police could easily use
such as unclear prohibition to harass lesbians and gay men. Continued
worldwide protest is expected, and ILGA will try to keep you informed of new
developments.
In the meantime, comments made during the debate on the penal code were
reported on in the 4 October issue of Transition from the Open Media
Research Institute (OMRI). Three deputies from the opposition National
Peasant Party Christian Democratic made it clear that Romanian lesbians and
gay men have no possibilities to appeal to elected officials for support.
The deputies proposed that special control teams be set up to inspect homes
for signs of homosexual behaviour. One of the deputies, Emil Popescu, said
that "incest is preferable to homosexuality," because it "gives breeding a
chance." Another deputy from the same party, Joria Pascu, claimed
incorrectly that homosexual relations are unknown in the "animal world" with
the exception of ducks, "which are known to be the most stupid among birds."
While no protest so far has been announced by duck-loving organizations,
ILGA member, ACCEPT, in Bucharest, are working out their next strategies and
statements in the fight for the right to love for lesbian, gay, and bisexual
romanians.
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ILGA - International Lesbian and Gay Association
81 Kolenmarkt, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Phone/Fax +32-2-502-2471, E-mail: ilga@ilga.org
A federation of over 300 groups from 75
countries fighting for the rights of lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender people.
We also have over 100 supportive associate
and individual members. Will you join us?
Contact us for more info!